Boca Couple Guilty In Store Robberies

In a plea agreement, Paul O`Brien was sentenced to 15 years in prison with a three-year minimum stay for his role in four armed robberies that in some cases included tying up store employees.

Because O`Brien was on parole from Nevada after serving eight years of a 30-year prison sentence for armed robbery, he will be returned to that state after his March 26 arraignment involving a jailhouse scuffle in Palm Beach County.

As part of the plea agreement, O`Brien will not receive any additional prison time if convicted of punching Palm Beach millionaire James Sullivan, his cellmate, after Sullivan accused him of being a ``snitch.``

In another twist, the O`Briens` house burned down last weekend in what officials think was arson.

Janyce O`Brien, 39, received five years probation that will not go on her record upon completion, for her role as a lookout in two of the robberies.

She told Circuit Judge Marvin Mounts Jr. that she did not realize her husband of nearly five years was on parole until three months after their marriage.

``I believe my first mistake was marrying the wrong man,`` she read from a prepared statement. ``It was unfortunate that I didn`t give myself the chance to get to know this man better before making such a serious decision as marriage after knowing him for only a few months.

``I realize that I must take responsibility for the crime I have committed. However, please understand that I was coerced into this act and convinced that I had no choice,`` she said.

She will seek a divorce as soon as she can, Janyce O`Brien said. Her husband told Mounts he coerced his wife into becoming his accomplice because her presence would make him look less suspicious.

She agreed to pay $1,040 in restitution to Pier 1 Imports in Delray Beach.